Tuesday, August 31, 2010

My Sigmund

I finally got around to completing a challenge & couldn't wait to get started on making Sigmund the Octopus using Future Girl's tutorial.  I actually didn't enjoy making it very much as found the 8 tentacles took forever, but once it was near completing I come to like my Sigmund.  Here he is, what do you think?

September's Theme!

After the challenge of our 8 tentacled friends, I thought we'd do something a bit more traditional. With that being said, this month's theme is the humble mouse.

After all, how many fairy tales include mice!
Whether a seamstress or a chef,
living in the country or city, charismatic mice always seem to make a tale that much more enchanting.

I hope you have fun with this theme....don't forget the activity....Fall is approaching soon!

September ornament:
mouse

September challenge: give your mouse an accessory or article of clothing.

September activity: Go firefly hunting! They come out at dusk and hover in wooded areas. If your own yard has no shrubbery go to a nearby walking trail.
After your hunt, come home and make s'mores to celebrate the end of the Summer...and beginning of Fall!!!

September's partners! I'll send out partner info by 9/5/10

Val & Jenny
Sandy & Natalie
Ramie & Kim
Melinda & Gin
Michele & Kerry
Nikki & Sherry
Courtney & Missy B.
Shawnee & Robin


The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Octopus Goodness!

Gin was my partner this month and she sent me a wonderful package! She made a cute bag that was filled with lace, ribbon and buttons. Gin also sent me a cute box that the octopus ornaments were in. Then......



.....there are the 3 cute octopus ornaments. I love all the beads and colors! The fabric reminds me of octopus tentacles. Then she also sent.......





......8 suckers, which made Jace and the other kids very happy! They were in heaven!

Thank you so much Gin and your package was mailed today. I hope you enjoy yours as much as we enjoyed ours!

Knitting Octo Ornie

Look at all these goodies that Little Messy Missy sent me! She said I know her well, well...I could say the same! Along with the ornie, there's Utah chocolate truffles, yarn, knitting needles she made with octopus pics on the ball end, an octo-chic bookmark and an octo suncatcher. I was actually eyeballing the paintable sun catchers at JoAnn's the other day to make one with toddler who will turn 4 tomorrow! She must have read my mind. And look at the knitting octopus ornament....it is AWESOME!! Look below...
I would have never thought of using this medium....I don't remember what it's called, but it's that clear resin type stuff that I've seen used in miniature's for ponds and rivers and stuff. She layered the sand, the seaweed, the octopus, her yarn balls and the pearl beads all in different layers so that it's dimensional. SO COOL!! I gotta get me some of this stuff and play around with it too.

Thanks Missy, for the wonderful goodies AND inspiring me to try something new!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

What I sent Niki

I am pretty sure Niki has her package by now so I thought I would post what I sent her. I was floored by the octopus theme. I even told Val that I had no idea what to do. She had faith in me though and said I would figure it out. Then I went upstairs, had a look around and saw a styrofoam ball, some floral wire and some organza...






Some tentacle beads and a cork and paper hat and he was done......










I also drew and sewed up a little felt guy just because.....and then I made a sea inspired cupcake to match.....














I made a sea inspired tag, I found the perfect box for the cupcake at a garage sale and added some candy, rick rack and buttons to the package....Hope you like it Niki and thanks for the challenge Miss Val.....

WOW!!!

Ramie spoiled me, she sent me such a great package!!! Octopus magnet, 2 octopus ornaments, 2 power bars , a beautiful slice of a rock and a big bag of garnet gravel from Idaho. She really does know me quite well!! Thank you, thank you , thank you, you rock (no pun intended)!!!!!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Someone has been busy!


My partner was very busy this past month crocheting this cute cute octopus, which my granddaughter Evelyn latched onto immediately when she saw it.  She also made these other adorable and creative ornaments.  Thanks Robin for all your hard work.  We love Stuffie.  I really think that the Jelly fish is so creative.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

I was Thinking ....... What a wonderful thing to create!

1,500,000 innocent Children died in the Holocaust

In an effort to remember them, Holocaust Museum Houston is collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies. http://www.hmh.org/ed_butterfly1.shtml


The butterflies will eventually comprise a breath-taking exhibition, currently scheduled for Spring 2013, for all to remember. The Museum has already collected an estimated 400,000 butterflies.


I was thinking that maybe some of you would like to creat a beautiful butterfly and send it the museum. You can create as many handmade arts-and-crafts butterflies as possible. This project may be completed by all ages as individuals or groups.
  1. Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.
  2. Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.
  3. Glitter and all glitter-related products should not be used.
  4. Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used.
  5. If possible, e-mail a photograph of your butterflies, to butterflyproject@hmh.org.


Mail or bring your butterflies to:

Holocaust Museum

Butterfly Project

Education Department

5401 Caroline St.

Houston, TX 77004

USA

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A Gnome Package from an "Angel"

I received an Angel package from our wonderful host, Val.

Val made me the cutest little gnome and a gnome home for him to relax in.


Val also sent me some wonderful goodies. I opened the box and it smelled so good! There is a lavender sachet, Fairy Bath Salts, flower seeds, a bookmark, and some fabric cutouts. Oh there is a container with some little mints in it, but it somehow dissappeared? I wonder if my kids know where it went?? I think so!


Here are the gnome ornaments and gnome trees that I had made for my partner. I got the pattern from Elizabeth's blog, Creative Breathing, and just did a few alterations.


I also made this gnome garland out of felt.


Thank you Val for the wonderful package!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Michele Askeroth

I was looking at Michele Askeroth blog and can not seem to leave her a comment and she doesn't seem to have an email. listed.. I am hoping she will see this ;0)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Sent to my partner Robin

I thought it would be unusual to bead up a little
octopus for my partner. The legs are on fine wire, so they can
be bent and shaped differently.
These are the other goodies I sent along to her, but I did
add in some Jelly Bellys too, before I taped up the box.
I think it is hard to find octopus items, so I made
up this tag and attached some earrings to it.
Then I sewed up a fishing net bag to put all the goodies into.
It is kind of funky, there but it is actually fishing net. Hope she likes it.
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Monday, August 16, 2010

Ollie, the ocean lovin' octi!

We did our part for this month's activity. We dropped "Ollie" at the New Orleans aquarium this past Saturday. I've already posted him to the Toy Society blog.

So....is anyone else doing this month's activity????? Hmmmm???

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Back up to July and Snails

I liked how the snail turned out that I made for my partner in July,
and decided I needed one too. I really could use another pincushion, so
decided that this snail would be a pincushion. This time instead of
using felt as the snail body, I found a heart shaped doily and just cut
it up the middle and overlapped the back. I like the way it turned
out, so thought I would post it here. I never would have thought of
making snails, but with the assignment, I got into a real snailly mood!

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Sunday, August 8, 2010

June Gnomes

Box of goodies



Kim was my June partner. Unfortunately her mailman wanted to join in and "misplaced" the package she sent me. Eventually they tracked it down and it finally made it to me.

A fun box of goodies was waiting for me when I got home from my most recent MRI/arthogram. It was a great thing to come home to after a long day of being tortured. Even the box is fun!



Our theme was Gnomes. I think of these like the Hansel and Gretel of the Gnome world. They even have a nice tree home to live in.


Gingerbread people doilies


Snowman pine cone ornament and painted pine cones



ribbon, beads, and buttons


train ornament, cork bottle caps, and curling ribbon


scrapbook signs


some kind of cards (I think)


Teeny, tiny adorable crocheted Mr. and Mrs. Claus. I know alot of work went into these. The thread is so thin and the crochet hooks are teeny, tiny.


and a fun apron. I think the universe is trying to tell me that I need aprons because Kim is the second person to send me an apron.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

SO EXCITED!

I am so excited by how my octopus is turning out...and I can't sew!!! But this is easy and cute and no I am not sharing pictures since it has not gone out yet!!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Back up a little...

to June's gnome ornie. My package arrived. My package is super fantastic. My partner spoiled me.
First, the gnomes. An embroidered gnome riding a bird. How clever.
Second, some little forest gnomes. I love them.
And, a lot of other surprises: 
Some vintage buttons, wood bead bracelet, vintage forks, vintage Avon powder tin, hanky, ceramic little box, and mini tootsie roll pops without the stick, and a poinsettia made out of fuzzy pipe cleaners. It's a great package. Thank you Anna, I love it all!!!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

August Door Prize

Hi Ladies - I'm the lucky person to sponsor August's Door Prize!

I have a few goodies up for grabs - so if you haven't won a Prize yet then please make a comment & I'll draw the lucky winner towards the end of the month.

Firstly I have some 'Tilda' soft pears I made:

Secondly a handy tea wallet I made to pop into your handbag and kept full with your favourite teas:



Thirdly a coffee cup holder (I think that's what you call them) to wrap around your coffee so you don't burn your hands!

And lastly 3 pretty plant pot holders to wrap around your indoor (or outdoor) plants to add some colour & decoration:


Goodluck! x